Emergencies and disasters will always be everybody’s concern and being prepared have a lot of advantages. If you're in the middle of a crisis or an emergency, it's important to take extra precautions to avoid becoming ill from contaminated food. According to CDC, do not judge a food's smell even if it may seem okay or appetizing as unsafe food can get you sick. "When in doubt, toss it out!” as the phrase goes. CDC strictly recommends that food that has not been properly refrigerated or frozen due to power outages, has come into contact with floodwater, and with an odd odor, color, or texture should all be thrown out after a disaster.
According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, a disaster can interrupt the food supply, therefore have at least a three-day supply of food on hand. Furthermore, they suggested keeping foods that have a long shelf life, meet the needs of infants or other family members, and those that require little or no cooking, water, or refrigeration. Likewise, very salty or spicy foods must also be eliminated from the list as backup stores, as these foods increase the need for drinking water which may be in short supply later on. It is not required to buy dehydrated or other types of emergency food while preserving food, as further elaborated by the US Department of Health and Human Services. Expiration dates on canned foods and dry mixes should be checked regularly to ensure safety. After a year, home-canned food should be thrown out. Before the expiration date, use and replace the food.
CDC also recommends keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible during and after a power outage. If you don't open the door, a full freezer will keep food safe for 48 hours (24 hours if half-full) without power. When the power has been off for 4 hours or longer, CDC strongly suggests throwing out all perishable items (including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers) in your refrigerator, as well as all perishable foods in your freezer if they have thawed. If the food still has ice crystals and feels as cold as if it had been refrigerated, you can safely refreeze or cook it.
In addition, CDC suggests that foods with an unusual odor, color, or texture, food in non-waterproof packages, food in cardboard containers, including juice/milk/baby formula boxes, food containers with screw caps, snap lids, crimped caps, twist caps, flip tops, and snap tops, home-canned foods, and canned foods or food containers that are bulging, open, or damaged should all be thrown away. Likewise, other food items that come in contact with these items, if sealed, must be disinfected.
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, consumers should review all food and food preparation spaces and equipment following a disaster to choose what to keep and what to discard. Power outages are one of the most prevalent consequences of natural catastrophes, such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, winter storms, wildfires, and other natural disasters. Having a plan is an important part of emergency preparedness. This could include stocking up on freshwater, shelf-stable meals, batteries, flashlights, phone charger packs, and other needs, as well as having health documents, current medications, and other necessities on hand in the event of an evacuation.
PNFP Marie-Claire Gaas, RND
References:
1. Keep Food Safe After a Disaster or Emergency – CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/foodwater/facts.html
2. Food Safety in a Disaster or Emergency
https://www.foodsafety.gov/keep-food-safe/food-safety-in-disaster-or-emergency
3. Food Safety After a Natural Disaster
Contributors: Esther Ellis, MS, RDN, LDN; Published September 3, 2019; Reviewed October 2020
